A complete career turnaround means Keith Ballam now holds his board meetings in the open air.

Having held senior posts with travel companies such as STA Travel and Delta Airlines, he bought Craggan Outdoors more than 18 months ago.

Since then, business has boomed at the outdoor centre in Grantown on Spey with turnover growing 50 per cent in Ballam's first year in charge.

In 2009, it was the top thing to do in Scotland in the influential TripAdvisor online ratings. Ballam's experience in the corporate world is still paying dividends as he now hosts team building and meeting events.

He said: "High ropes, zip-wiring, archery, gorge walking, and kayaking may not sound like your average meeting ice-breakers, but they certainly allow companies to take team building to a new level.

"We offer a very flexible approach and work really closely with client companies to select the right activities, tailoring a package to fit precise needs and business objectives, and of course budget.

"Each activity is facilitated by fully-trained instructors who are chosen for their people skills as much as their technical abilities."

After working through the worst winter in decades, Ballam expects Craggan Outdoors to cater for more people than ever before in 2010.

He added: "It's a growing market.

We fully appreciate the value companies must secure from investment in people.

"Our environment gives employees the opportunity to explore the theories behind effective teams in a completely alternative context, but with fun and enjoyment at the heart of every activity. It couldn't be more different to a day in the office, but can be so much more effective at breeding camaraderie and boosting productivity."